Sealing device.



PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

P. W. PUROELL. SEALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19, 1905.

w xmw I Svvvemtoz Z 7C 9 ZZ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. PURCELL, OF LUVERNE, MINNESOTA.

SEALBNG DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27. 1906.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W, PURCELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Luverne, in the county of Rock and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sealing Devices; and 7 simple, inexpensive, and highly efiicient sealing or locking device of this character which cannot be opened without destroying the same.

With the above and other objects-in View the invention consists of certain novel feaappended claims.

tures of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the sealing or locking device is constructed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the completed device in its open position. Fig. 3 is a similar view, the same being in its closed or locked position. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the rear face of an envelop, showing a slightlymodified form of my invention applied thereto; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes an improved sealing or locking device which is particularly designed for use in sealing the doors of railway-cars and the like. As shown, the device is made from a single piece of sheet metal by bending the blank (shown in Fig. 1) so as to form the completed device. (Seen in Figs. 2 and 3.) The device comprises a flexible strip or loop 2, which has at one of its ends a closed casing 3 and at its opposite end a coacting tongue 4. The tongue has adjacent to its end a slot or opening 5 and a projecting spur 6.

Informing the casing 3 the laterally-extended portions 7 of the blank (shown in Fig. 1) are bent'up to form the sides. The ortion 8 is then bent over the bottom on the ine a a and caused to lie between the sides. The portion 9 is then bent reversely on the line b b, so as to lie between the sides and on the portion 8, and the portion 10 is then bent up wardly on the line 0 to extend to the upper edges of the sides, is then bent on the line d d to lie above the portion 9, and is finally bent downwardly, near its outer end, on the line 6 e. Hence the said portion 9 forms the top and ends of the casing.

The ends and top of the casing may be secured to the sides by solder or any other suitablemeans, and an inlet-openin 11 is left at that end of the casing from whic the strip or loop 2 projects, so as to receive the opposite end or tongue 4, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. 'In the portion 9 of the blank is formed an upwardly and rearwardly projecting locking-spur 12, which is guarded by an oppositely-projecting guarding-spur 13. The latter is disposed below and in rear of the spur 12, so that when the opening 5 in the tongue 4 is once engaged with the lockingspur 12 it will be retained in such engagement by the uard 13. 3 I

It wi 1 be seen that the portions 8 and 9 of .the blank are disposed within the casing 3 and that the portlon 8 forms a spring, which assists in holding the parts in their locked position. a

The use and advantages of the device will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings. It will be seen that when it is desired to seal or look the device the'tongue 4 is forced into the inlet-opening 11 of the casing3 until its opening 5 engages the spur 12 and its spur 6 engages the interior of the casing 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawin s. When the parts are in this position, it will is impossible to remove the tongue 4 from the I casing without destroying the latter.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings I have shown my invention applied to. the flap of an envelop. It will be seen that upon one of the flaps I secure a casing 23, which corresponds to the casing 3, and u on the other flap I secure a tongue 24,whici 1 corresponds to the tongue 4. The casing 23 is circular in form and has within the same a lockingspur 12, which is guarded by a guarding. spur 13. The' tongue 24 has a slot 5 to engage the s ur 12 and a spur 6 to engage the interior 0 the casin This casing 23 and the tongue 24 may e attached to the envelop in any desired manner; but I preferably attach them by means of spurs 25, as

shown.

From the foregoing description, taken in l 13- and provided near its outer end with an connection with the accompanying drawings, I opening 5 and a spur 6.

the construction and operation of the'invenl 2. A; sealing device formed from a blank tion will be readily understood without rel strip having a portion to form a casing open quiring a more extended explanation. l at one end, and a tongue extending from the Various changes in the form, proportion,

open end of the casing having a portion douand the minor details of construction may 1 bled in the casing and provided Wltli a lockbe resorted to without departing from the l ing-spur 12 and a guard 13, and a portion exprinciple or sacrificing any of the advan-" tending from said doubled portion adapted tages of this invention. to be doubled and having its outer portion Having thus described my invention, What inserted in the casing, said outer portion of I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let- 1 the tongue having anopening 5 to receive the ters Patent, is 1 locking spur 12, and a spur 6 to engage a 1. A sealing device blank comprising a flange at the opening in the casing, substanstrip of sheet metal formed at a suitable disi tially as described. tance from one end with a widened portion In testnnony whereof I have hereunto set adapted to have its sides bent up to form the my hand in presence of two subscribing'witsides of a casing, the ends of the strip forninesses. ing a comparatively short, and a compara- FRANK W. PURCELL. tively long tongue respectively, the latter Witnesses:

having at a suitable distance from the Wid- W. W. COCROFT,- ened portion a locking-spur 12 and a guard G. W. Kn-rss. 

